A year-long undercover Seattle police investigation that included a bogus storefront in Georgetown led to the acquisition of hundreds of stolen items, including more than two dozen stolen guns, and the arrest of dozens of suspects.

The storefront tactic hadn't been used in Seattle since 1979, but was done in response to a 3.2 percent increase in burglary and theft cases in 2010, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel said.

The Department's Major Crimes Task Force, working with the Pawn Shop and Property Recovery Unit, teamed with King County prosecutors and the FBI to setup the shop, where undercover officers spent 11 months buying stolen goods for a fraction of their value.

During the operation, detectives bought more than 900 stolen items, including 146 watercraft, motorcycles and other vehicles. There were 76 bikes, several stolen computers, personal electronics, passports – even business documents intended to be shredded.

To avoid tipping off criminals and endangering officers, police did not immediately return most items. There were a few exceptions, including a stolen car full of wrapped baby shower gifts and a truck with more than $100,000 of construction equipment.

Though police watched the vehicles the entire time, they ditched them and had them recovered by King County Sheriff's deputies, which then reported the cars were found abandoned as part of the operation, Pugel said.

The investigation also recovered 27 stolen firearms. In one case, police say a felon sold military grade C-4 explosives to undercover officers. Mayor Mike McGinn lauded police for keeping such items off Seattle streets.

A felon who police say sold the explosives is one of six suspects charged by federal authorities. There were 102 suspects involved in 314 separate criminal cases, police say. Investigators also checked in weekly with King County Prosecutors to avoid entrapment issues, Pugel said.

Police now have dozens of items they're trying to get back to rightful owners. Recent theft victims who think their items may have been recovered can browse through the city's online inventory photos and call (206) 773-9616. Some of the property images are included above, though there are several hundred overall.